Issued 30 May 2003

The Commerce Commission has cleared Portacom New Zealand Limited to acquire the business assets of Transportables, a joint venture portable building hire operation owned by Washing Machine Services Nelson Limited and Coldstore Construction (1995) Limited.

Portacom is a wholly owned subsidiary of WACO International Limited. Portacom manufactures modular portable buildings for sale and hire nationwide.

Transportables is involved in the modular portable building hire market in the Nelson area.

The Commission is satisfied that the proposed acquisition would not have, nor would be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in the market for the provision of retail hire and distribution for modular portable buildings in the Nelson and Marlborough region.

The Commission will publish its written report on its website, www.comcom.govt.nz/adjudication, shortly.

Media contact:

Jackie Maitland, Communications Manager

Phone work (04) 924 3708, mobile 029 924 3708